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Chapter 30
The next morning, Damia packed her modest belongings. She was ready to leave in no time.
Cassian suggested it would be safer to take refuge at the Sarkis estate, since the whereabouts of the butler were still unknown.
Damia vividly remembered the resentment in the butler’s eyes. She had no choice but to accept Cassian’s suggestion.
Besides, the mysterious figure—so uncannily resembling Cassian—posed a real threat.
If that person came to the Ponti estate in the middle of the night, it was obvious that Damia and all the household servants would be slaughtered.
‘Though that figure seems somewhat wary of Cassian and his party.’
The Sarkis estate seemed safer in every sense.
“D-Damia… are you really going to the Sarkis estate with the Young Viscount?”
“Yes, Father. At least until the butler is caught, I can’t stay here out of fear.”
Damia’s firm resolve made the Marquis clutch at her, his face full of concern.
Although he was probably more worried about his own safety than hers.
“Even if it’s a luxurious estate, it’ll feel uncomfortable for you as your future in-laws’ home, won’t it?”
“You were going to send me to Count Pavron’s house too—what are you saying now?”
The Marquis thumped his chest in frustration and stepped closer to his daughter.
“What on earth are you doing? You don’t really believe the Young Viscount will marry you, do you?”
He began scolding her close to her ear.
“What if the Young Viscount tires of you? Then, because of your age and the scandal, your ‘value’ will plummet!”
Damia met her father’s gaze without a hint of fear.
Seeing his daughter unflinching, the Marquis’ expression hardened. A tense silence hung between them.
“Miss, the Young Viscount is calling you.”
Romie, quick to sense the moment, intervened.
Cassian, already waiting in the carriage to give them time to say goodbye, also watched the scene.
“Yes, I’m going now.”
Damia ignored her father and turned away. She no longer wanted to engage. Some relationships in life simply required distance.
“Don’t worry, Marquis. I will take good care of Miss.”
“How dare a maid interrupt with such insolence!”
“Y-Yes, I’m sorry!”
Though her father’s indignant voice carried, it didn’t bother her much.
She had already spent a previous life following her father’s unreasonable demands just to be loved.
“Here.”
Cassian extended his gloved hand from the carriage.
Damia stepped onto the footboard and slowly placed her hand over his.
The Young Viscount gently guided her into the carriage.
Under the summer sunlight, the boy shone brilliantly.
Damia bit her lip, unexpectedly moved.
This was the first achievement she had secured in this life. And this relationship might be an even greater stroke of luck than she realized.
He was showing care beyond the terms of a contract.
‘I have to find a way to save Cassian even more diligently.’
She wanted to see him shine as Young Viscount for a long time.
“Oh my, little one!”
Upon arriving at the Sarkis estate, they were greeted by the Duchess.
Her face, like carved ice, lit up with warmth.
“Mother!”
Damia responded affectionately, throwing herself into her arms.
Her small, delicate frame fit perfectly into Elena’s embrace.
“Ah… my little one.”
Elena’s voice trembled as if moved.
“I heard from Cassian. There was quite an incident, wasn’t there?”
“No! The Young Viscount arrived just in time to save me.”
Damia smiled shyly.
Her violet eyes sparkled as she fidgeted with her hands, like a girl struck by first love.
Seeing this, Cassian was certain.
Indeed, Damia Ponti was hopelessly infatuated with him.
She had always adored him, and now he had saved her from near death…
Cassian shook his head, helpless.
“It’s dreadful that Marquis Ponti sheltered such an unscrupulous man, but I’m sincerely glad you’ll be staying here even briefly.”
“I feel the same way, Mother.”
Damia smiled and linked arms with Elena.
Elena looked surprised but not displeased; if anything, she seemed quite proud.
“I hurried to prepare your room last night as soon as I heard you’d be arriving.”
“Already? Thank you so much, Mother!”
The Duchess gently tugged Damia along, urging her inside.
Cassian’s lips curved slightly at the sight of their warm interaction.
Realizing he had noticed this, he startled and clenched his teeth.
‘Why am I watching this so fondly?’
He brushed his black hair back roughly.
Seeing Damia’s worn sleeves, he wanted to buy her new clothes. Seeing her thin cheeks, he wanted to fatten them up with sweets.
But this bond would end one day.
The engagement was only temporary, and no matter how much he regarded Damia like a little sister, they would never truly be siblings.
He couldn’t become too accustomed to her presence.
“Aren’t you afraid you’ll get lost if you wander alone?”
Cassian guided Damia through every corner of the estate.
When she counted the number of annexes, she quickly grew overwhelmed and quiet.
Cassian chuckled lowly at her reaction.
“Let’s go to the library.”
“The library?”
Damia’s eyes sparkled, her pale cheeks flushed pink.
‘She said she had no friends, so she read a lot.’
Cassian took great pride in the Sarkis estate library.
Most of the young nobles he knew were pitiful creatures, obsessed with gossip about girls.
He felt a quiet satisfaction at finally meeting someone who could appreciate the library’s true value.
‘What if she wants to live here permanently?’
A mix of anticipation and worry swelled inside him.
He wanted to show her the library, let her sit in the sunniest spot, and review the engagement contract.
He wanted to see her surprised and delighted by the thirty-plus pages of clauses.
Would she feel a little disappointed about the clause forbidding interference in his private life, as any girl in love might?
‘Maybe I’ll allow just a tiny bit of leeway.’
His heart fluttered with excitement as he opened the library door.
“Young Viscount.”
Damia’s eyes widened in shock as she examined the contract.
“Why? Is there a problem?”
Cassian forced a stern tone, though he was secretly anxious.
“Isn’t this contract far too favorable to you?”
“You don’t like it?”
“No! Of course not!”
Damia hurriedly searched for a quill, as if ready to sign immediately.
“You shouldn’t sign recklessly. You have to read it properly first.”
“There’s nothing more to read! The more I see, the more touched I am! I’m truly surprised you’re prioritizing my safety!”
“You’re the only one who can even slightly ease my curse. Don’t take it personally. It’s a rational decision.”
“Yes, of course!”
Damia even hummed happily, tapping her feet.
Half of Cassian had expected this reaction, the other half not.
‘Why do I feel like I’ve been insulted?’
The overly excited girl even seemed a little annoying.
“Anything else?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Any clauses you don’t like?”
Cassian had thought she might be disappointed about the clause forbidding interference in his private life.
“…No?”
“Really? You mean you’re satisfied with everything?”
“What else could there be?”
Damia tilted her head in innocent puzzlement, which made the crease between Cassian’s brows deepen.
“Fine, then.”
At Cassian’s reluctant expression, Damia furrowed her brows.
After a moment, she exclaimed:
“Ah! You mean the clause about not interfering in private life?”
“Yes, yes, yes—that one.”
Cassian inadvertently brightened at her response.
It was an uncharacteristically imperfect reaction for a picture-perfect Young Viscount.
Realizing this, Cassian coughed awkwardly as if choking.
“I particularly like this clause!”
“What… what did you say?”
It was a completely unexpected reply.
Cassian’s sculpted face froze in surprise.
